Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Habibi by Craig Thompson

8 reviews

imartine's review

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

The fact that the author is a white man and the two main characters are people of color makes me feel like there is some type of misrepresentation going on. The illustration and image composition is beautiful, but there is a heavy amount of sexual content that feels more like it’s forced on the characters than a part of their lives. The author is a white man, who I believe did his research, but no amount of research can make his lived experience equivalent and justify his use of these characters. My personal belief is that white folks should not use the n-word in any way ever, and this author did write it out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Body horror, Addiction, Physical abuse, War, Fatphobia, Gore, Chronic illness, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal death, Trafficking, Child death, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, and Vomit

whatisjordyreading's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Excrement, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Classism, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Pedophilia, Racism, Trafficking, and Transphobia

Moderate: Confinement and Fatphobia

nicmcphee's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Violence, Confinement, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Self harm

huichola's review

reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Rape

itzsupergirl's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Sexual violence, Racism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Fatphobia

alicecrow's review

adventurous dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

While the art is impressive and the story carries you away, there were moments I was unsure what it all meant. I found it difficult to understand what the author meant by certain parts of the book. Thompson is obviously an impressive storyteller and artist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs

Minor: Abandonment and Abortion

gabbyjc's review

dark emotional reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Abandonment, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Suicidal thoughts

taylor29harty's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Whew! While I do not agree with banning books and censorship, I can UNDERSTAND why this book was challenged / banned in schools. I, as an adult, was not prepared for the graphic images of (TW) rape, castration, child neglect, and more. I also didn't totally "get it". Was it just about sexual awakening and exploration? Is anyone else grossed out that Dodola was Zam's mother, then sister, then...lover? The ambiguous timeline really threw me off. While I can see that it was purposefully done in this way I do wish that it had been a little more clear WHY it was done this way. Is it a critique on industrialization and technological advancement? Like I said, I just don't get it. I need to do a little bit more research on the meanings I may have missed and why the author (from small town Wisconsin) chose to tell a story of two young former slaves in this Arabic society. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, and Vomit